The grinding world of politics from the Los Angeles Daily News

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Focus and discipline for Garcetti

A focused, disciplined campaign delivered the Los Angeles mayor’s office to Eric Garcetti, who beat Wendy Greuel by sticking to a consistent message and a strategic spending plan. He also benefitted greatly from his rival’s early missteps. Dakota Smith in the Daily News.

At the heart of the city councilman’s campaign to become mayor of the nation’s second-biggest city was a strict mantra: “No unforced errors.” The phrase was repeated at Garcetti’s Studio City campaign headquarters and reiterated in staff meetings and phone calls.

The message reminded Garcetti’s team that Greuel’s deep-pocketed allies would exploit mistakes, and the media scrutiny would be intense. As the councilman emerged as the frontrunner after the primary and Greuel’s team faltered, the mantra took on more urgency.